AMBASSADOR HANDS CNP COMMISSIONER HOK LUNDY HIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000482

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y--ADDED FBI INFO ADDRESSEE

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP, DRL, PRM, S/CT, S/P, CA, G,
P, DS AND EAP/RSP
FBI FOR FUENTES
HANOI PASS HO CHI MINH CITY
BANGKOK FOR MICHAEL HONNOLD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HANDS CNP COMMISSIONER HOK LUNDY HIS
U.S. VISA WITH CONDITIONS

PHNOM PENH 00000482 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Officer Gaurav Bansal for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador presented a pleased
Cambodian National Police (CNP) Commissioner General Hok
Lundy with his passport and visa to the U.S. He pressed him
to do more to combat TIP, particularly in the beach resort of
Sihanoukville and to continue investigating how the owner and
manager of Chai Hour II were let out of prison and allowed to
resume business. The Ambassador pointed out that the
positive visa decision came with the condition that Lundy
visit the State Department to discuss TIP. General Lundy
welcomed the proposed consultations and added that he also
wished to meet representatives of the Department of Homeland
Security (D.H.S.) to discuss the Cambodian returnee program
and the FBI to talk about cooperation with the Legatt office.
He acknowledged the problems with the police in
Sihanoukville but stated that his police force did not know
about the Appeals Court decision releasing the owner and
manager Chai Hour II. The Ambassador also pressed the
commissioner about the ten Montagnards who reportedly had
just been returned to Vietnam, and expressed the hope that
the upcoming elections would be both fair and peaceful. Hok
Lundy informed the Ambassador that Hun Sen now wants him to
remain in Cambodia to ensure election day safety; two other
CNP Generals will travel to the conference. Lundy promised
to provide revised travel plans to the Embassy soon. End
Summary.


2. (C) As the Ambassador returned his passport with a U.S.
visa to Hok Lundy, he informed the CNP commissioner that the
decision to issue was made at the highest levels of the State
Department. The Ambassador continued that the decision came
with the condition that Lundy visit the State Department.
The Ambassador emphasized that recently the Embassy has
learned about many problems with the way TIP cases are being
investigated and prosecuted in Sihanoukville by the police
and courts. He mentioned that though the RGC appears to be
fighting TIP properly in Phnom Penh much work needs to be
done in the provinces. The Ambassador also discussed his
dismay at the release of the owner and manager of the Chai
Hour II.


3. (C) General Lundy thanked the Ambassador for the good
news about his visa application. He stated that the CNP had
stepped up its efforts to combat TIP. For example, he
mentioned that the CNP's anti-TIP unit worked directly with
the NGO AFESIP but these efforts may not be sufficient. He
acknowledged that he knew about problems in Sihanoukville and
promised to tackle them. Regarding Chai Hour II, he
reaffirmed the RGC's stance that the decision to release the
two men was made by the Appeals Court, and he pleaded
ignorance about their release. But he emphasized that the
CNP has returned the convicts to jail and will ensure that
they serve their sentences. Lundy pondered that the case
pointed out the need for a systematic clamp down on
corruption in Cambodia.


4. (C) Turning to his upcoming trip to the U.S., the head
of the CNP welcomed a visit to the State Department to
discuss TIP as well as a meeting with the FBI to discuss
joint efforts to tackle crime. Lundy also proposed a meeting
with the D.H.S. to discuss the Cambodian returnees. He
informed the Ambassador that the Prime Minister has asked him
to stay in Cambodia to ensure the April 1 commune elections
were problm-free; as a result, he would send two other CNP
generals to the conference in Las Vegas. However, he looked
forward to going to the U.S. soon and asked for Embassy help
in making appointments in Washington. He also hoped that his
visit would increase trust between the RGC and the USG.


5. (C) The Ambassador told Lundy that he hoped that the
upcoming commune council elections would be safe and peaceful
for the voters, and candidates. The DCM mentioned that the
Embassy will deploy some 40 observer teams.


6. (C) The Ambassador also raised with Hok Lundy U.S.
concern about the refoulement of Montagnards, indirectly
referencing a March 26 Cambodia Daily article alleging that
police in Ratanakiri apprehended and returned to Vietnam ten
Montagnards on March 23. (Note. Although the provincial
governor and police chief denied the incident occurred UNHCR

PHNOM PENH 00000482 002.2 OF 002


confirmed with working-level police that refoulement happened
-- but said one of the ten escaped. UNHCR sent a diplomatic
note to the RGC asking it to confirm whether the incident
happened. UNHCR estimates that there are currently 26
Montagnards in Ratanakiri and has an outstanding request to
go get them. End Note.) The Ambassador noted that such an
incident would be a violation of the 1951 refugee convention
and urged that Montagnards continue to be given access to
UNHCR. The Ambassador also asked in the letter that the RGC
provide expeditious approval of UNHCR's requests to go to the
northeast to pick up Montagnards. The Ambassador told Hok
Lundy it was critical that the police live up to its
commitments under the refugee convention.



7. (C) Comment: The Embassy appreciates the attention that
multiple agencies and bureaus focused on the admittedly
difficult question of whether Hok Lundy should be issued a
visa for official travel to the United States. We welcome
the decision to issue and agree fully that Hok Lundy should
meet with a senior Department official to discuss ways in
which Cambodia can make further progress in the battle
against trafficking-in-persons. We also support Hok Lundy's
proposal that that he meet with officials from D.H.S.
interested in the returnee issue. We are following up with
Hok Lundy's office for information about the exact dates he
will be in Washington. We will pass additional information,
as soon as we get it, to EAP/MLS in order to set up meetings
with the Department, FBI, and D.H.S. End Comment.




MUSSOMELI